Steering Head Bearings Stuck -76 GL1000

[ole496]

Here's the bike as it sits:

[ole496]

I got the old bearings out (and all over the floor ). I cleaned up all the grease, cleaned the inside of the neck tube and opened this all balls bearing kit I bought last year.

[ole496]

The issue I currently have is the bottom bearing seal/cup from the old bearings are stuck on the bottom of the steering stem. How do you get that off of there?

[ole496]

I've also been cruising the older threads on replacing the steering head bearings on the 75-77 wings. My bike has a serial number starting with 201xxxx which is pre-204 series (in 1976 frames) which switched to the tapered bearings if I read the other threads correctly.

[ole496]

My bike did have the old school ball bearing/cup style which I'm sure is original and never replaced. The steering was notched really bad and the bike only has 39 thousand miles on it.

Some other threads said not to use the spacer on the bottom of the steering stem for the early 76 models so I won't be using that when I get to installing the new style. I'll just install the seal, then the bearings.

Looking at the top bearing lip inside the neck, it appears that my new bearings will stick up somewhat on the top of the neck. Anyone know if that is normal?

[ole496]

Also for future readers, to get the old bearings out, I used large diameter sockets attached to a long socket extension to drive them out with a hammer. The sockets should provide an even mating surface to push the bearings out evenly and avoiding any binding issues.

The lower bearings have a larger opening to fit the socket through. Remove the upper bearings first by pounding up from below. Then you can use a larger socket and remove the lower bearing second by pounding down and out the bottom. I had zero issues getting those out.

[jafo]

If your very careful and work slowly checking often and VERY careful use a 4 inch grinder with a cut off wheel, cut one side and if it still won't come off cut the other side. But I would only suggest this if your sure you can be very careful work slow checking the cut often. Or you could take it to a machine shop or bike shop that has the special tools for removing them, someone else may have another suggestion but this is just how I would remove that race.

[roncar]

I haven't tried it, but this was posted a while ago, IIRC by puffy75.

[Dangeruss]

Mine on the 77 were a PITA also. I just kept working it lightly with a punch and screwdriver and eventually it started to move. I have heard of others using a dremel cut off wheel to split it and speed things up.

The most important thing is not to score the surface of the stem where the race sits.

[ole496]

Geez what a PITA. Still stuck on there...Mother Honda says nothing in the manual either. I like the double pry method, I'll try that tomorrow otherwise I'll just have to cut it.

[roncar]

Found it. It was puffy75. http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic. ... 89#p131489

I have posted a picture(in my gallery) of the method the training center teaches to remove the lower race on steering stems. Doing this in small increments from side to side so the race or pry bar does not gouge the pipe. It is a snug fit but a little finesse will get it off.

[tirejoe]

Take stick or wire welder run a bead around the bearing surface ,then turn stem up side down tap on a block of wood the race will fall off.

[ole496]

Thank you all, I have been victorious! Puffy75's method did the trick and it was surprisingly easy to do! It only took about 3 minutes to get the bearing off.

I used a single pry bar and held the tree down by hand with the steering stem facing up. I put the edge of the bar under it like the photo shows and just leaned lightly on the pry bar. I went back and forth about 12 times on each side and it was off! I didn't even break a sweat, thanks again!

[roncar]

I haven't tried it, but this was posted a while ago, IIRC by puffy75.

Thank you all, I have been victorious! Puffy75's method did the trick and it was surprisingly easy to do! It only took about 3 minutes to get the bearing off.

+1 I just tried it on a tree I have on the shelf. Very easy to do, and as I don't have welding equipment or a dremel, it's my solution of choice.

[ole496]

So I finally got time to install the new bearings. They do stick up above the top of the frame neck. I did not use a spacer on the bottom of the lower bearing and it bolts up and seems to work just fine. Is it ok to leave the bearing sticking up a little bit above the neck or do I need to send this in to be machined like some other threads suggested?